I'm a one-time daily newspaper reporter who now writes about high-end jewelry, the finest timepieces, luxury and fashion. It seems remarkable when looking back, but, at the same time, it feels quite normal. My first magazine job was with a design and architecture trade publication where I received a first-hand education and appreciation of how good, innovative design can actually make the world a better place. It’s something I took with me to a jewelry trade publication where I spent nine years. During this time I traveled the world acquiring knowledge about the diverse and expansive jewelry industry and now I am able to share this knowledge with you. Like Robert Frost I took the road less traveled. And that has made all the difference. In addition to this blog, you can find me at my "Jewelry News Network" blog and facebook page and on Twitter at jewelrynewsnet.

Why Alexander Wang Was Given The Keys To Balenciaga

As everyone knows by now, Alexander Wang, the 28-year-old wunderkind of the fashion world, was named creative director of the renowned fashion house Balenciaga.

According to François-Henri Pinault, chairman & CEO of PPR, the French multinational holding company that owns the brand, Wang is the right person at the right time for the for a number of reasons, including his design sensibilities, street savvy and ability to generate buzz. He said that Wang was chosen to continue the transformation of the venerable brand into modern luxury. Something that former creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière, had done during his 15 years at the helm.

“It was just a natural evolution of the company,” Pinault said. “It’s an old and a young company at the same time. It has a strong history and we want to continue to build after 15 years. It’s quite a normal decision. So we’re looking at a new name in the promotion of the brand…. He’s young. He lives in New York. We will get even more exposure of the brand worldwide. It’s a new adventure starting for him.”

Pinault was in New York Wednesday and discussed the change at Balenciaga, which came as a surprise in the fashion industry, during a presentation at the Consulate General of France Wednesday and with a handful of reporters afterward.

Pinault said the decision to hire Wang was his and he plans on working closely with the designer, as he does with all of his creative heads. He said he was looking for not just a great talent but someone who understood what he referred to as the brand’s DNA. Someone who was willing to place his personal signature on the brand without undermining its legacy as a fashion house founded in 1918 by Cristóbal Balenciaga as well as the modern direction of the brand during the past 15 years by Ghesquière.

“Nicolas created a really new vision in terms of the avant garde direction of the brand. We wanted to make sure the person we hire understands this and is capable of working with those elements to push them forward. It could be very dangerous if you don’t do this and you have a very strong talent but who does not give consideration to what has been done and to do something completely different. I did not want that at all. Balenciaga is the main purpose…. What I really like in discussions with him is the challenge of expressing his talent in a different situation and in doing this not only in his own name but for another brand in his own realities in his own DNA. He’s absolutely excited with that.”

Pinault, in the same presentation, said that Asia is the place where luxury has the biggest potential and that PPR is looking to capitalize on this potential. Wang’s family is from Taiwan and it was suggested that is the reason he hired. Pinault said that wasn’t the case.

“It is an extra value that Alexander brings. It was not a criteria for recruitment.”

Pinault shrugs off detractors who question Wang’s youth, his far different interpretation of design through his Alexander Wang brand, and his American and Taiwanese roots, in running a Parisian fashion house.

“What I read is people look at what has been done in the Alexander Wang brand which has nothing to do with what we want done with Balenciaga. You cannot judge from that. It’s a new challenge. It’s a new adventure for him. He has a great talent. I’m pretty sure that he we will demonstrate it.”

In fact, Pinault, compares the hiring of Wang to that of Ghesquière, who was even younger (25) and less known then Wang at the time he was named creative director of Balenciaga.

“When he (Ghesquière) started Balenciaga in ’97, he was designing uniforms for Air France,” Pinault said. “Who would have said that Nicolas would become such a great talent?”

Pinault acknowledges that it will be a big challenge for the self-made designer who has never worked for a major fashion brand. However, he said that Wang’s “universal culture” works well with the fashion house that has an international following.

“It (Balenciaga) is not a French-centric brand,” he said. “He’s young, he wants to do it, and he’s very excited about it.”

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